Psychedelic Therapy Research & Evidence
Explore the research and scientific literature supporting psychedelic-assisted therapy.
Ketamine Therapy Research & Evidence
Recent research has identified ketamine as a groundbreaking treatment for depression, especially for those resistant to traditional antidepressants. A global analysis of clinical trials revealed ketamine as the most studied drug for depression over the past 30 years, highlighting its potential to revolutionize mental health care.
The study, examining over 10,000 depression trials, consistently ranked ketamine as the top investigated drug across international registries. Its effectiveness extends beyond major depressive disorder, showing promise in reducing suicidal ideation, PTSD severity, and anxiety-related conditions. Ketamine’s rapid action and efficacy in treatment-resistant cases offer hope to patients who’ve struggled with conventional therapies.
While traditional antidepressants remain common, ketamine’s unique mechanism targeting NMDA receptors presents a novel approach to managing depressive symptoms. As research progresses, ketamine therapy is opening new avenues for more personalized and effective mental health treatments, potentially transforming millions of lives worldwide.
Additional Sources – Ketamine Therapy Research
- This comprehensive review examines the clinical evidence for using ketamine and esketamine to treat major depressive disorder (MDD), particularly treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The research highlights ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects, its potential for treating other psychiatric conditions, and discusses strategies to prolong its effects.
- This systematic review examines the use of ketamine for treating refractory anxiety disorders, with and without comorbid depression. The evidence suggests that ketamine can provide rapid but temporary relief from anxiety symptoms.
-
This study tested ketamine as a treatment for depression that hasn’t responded to other treatments. It found that repeated ketamine infusions over 2 weeks worked better than a single dose, with about 59% of participants showing significant improvement in their depression symptoms, and weekly follow-up doses helped maintain the positive effects.
“My experience with psychedelics has been a broadening of the mind, and more importantly, a window into the new perspectives around my own life and my interactions with the others. I’ve had some some of my most profound life insights during my journeys which have helped me overcome roadblocks that I previously could not get past and allowed me to see things in a new light, such that I’m able to progress like I could not previously.
Ultimately I leave those sessions with more love, hope, empathy, and peace.“
Psilocybin Therapy Research & Evidence
A new study tested whether the drug psilocybin, found in “magic mushrooms,” could help people with depression when combined with therapy. Researchers divided 24 people with major depression into two groups. One group received two doses of psilocybin along with several therapy sessions, while the other group waited before getting the same treatment.
The results were striking. Just one week after treatment, over 70% of participants showed major improvements in their depression symptoms. Many felt much better even four weeks later. These improvements were much larger than what’s typically seen with standard antidepressant medications or talk therapy alone.
Importantly, the treatment appeared to be safe, with no serious side effects reported. While this study was small and didn’t include many different types of people, it suggests that psilocybin therapy could be a promising new option for depression.
Additional Sources – Psilocybin Therapy Research
- This study found that a single high dose of psilocybin, when administered under supportive conditions to cancer patients experiencing depression and anxiety, produced substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety symptoms and increases in quality of life, life meaning, and optimism. The positive effects persisted for at least 6 months, with 80% of participants continuing to show clinically significant decreases in depression and anxiety.
- This long-term follow-up study found that a psilocybin-facilitated smoking cessation program resulted in high rates of smoking abstinence, with 60% of participants remaining abstinent at an average of 30 months after treatment. Additionally, the majority of participants rated their psilocybin experiences as among the most meaningful and spiritually significant of their lives, suggesting psilocybin’s potential as a promising treatment for smoking cessation when used in a structured program.
- This randomized clinical trial found that psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy significantly reduced heavy drinking days compared to placebo in adults with alcohol use disorder over a 32-week period. The study showed psilocybin treatment was well-tolerated and produced substantial decreases in drinking, suggesting it may be a promising approach for treating alcohol addiction.
“I’d heard of psychedelics and wondered if a journey could give me the peace and closure I needed. And boy did it. It’s like the feelings just melted away. I could see who she really was, and I was overcome with love. It’s like everything we’d been working on in therapy just clicked into place finally. Fully. It felt like a whole new start with a clean slate.“
MDMA Therapy Research & Evidence
A recent study shows promising results for treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using MDMA-assisted therapy. In a clinical trial with 90 participants with severe, long-term PTSD, 67% no longer met PTSD criteria after three sessions, compared to 32% in the placebo group.
The treatment appears effective for various PTSD types, including complex cases typically hard to treat. MDMA-assisted therapy was found to be safe, with no serious side effects. It seems to help patients process traumatic memories more easily, reducing fear and increasing compassion during sessions.
Notably, 88% of participants experienced significant symptom reduction. The therapy was effective for PTSD caused by various traumas, including combat, accidents, and abuse. Participants with the dissociative subtype of PTSD responded particularly well. These results suggest MDMA-assisted therapy could become a powerful new treatment option, offering hope for those resistant to conventional treatments.
Additional Sources – MDMA Therapy Research
- This multisite open-label study found that MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD, administered by newly trained therapists across 14 sites in North America, resulted in significant reductions in PTSD symptoms. The treatment was well-tolerated, with high adherence to the therapy protocol across sites, suggesting that MDMA-assisted therapy can be effectively scaled up while maintaining safety and efficacy.
- This review summarizes evidence supporting MDMA-assisted psychotherapy as a breakthrough treatment for PTSD, comparing it favorably to existing first-line treatments, sertraline and paroxetine, in terms of efficacy, safety, and durability of response. The research indicates MDMA-assisted psychotherapy produced larger reductions in PTSD symptoms, had lower dropout rates, and fewer side effects compared to the SSRIs, leading the FDA to grant it Breakthrough Therapy designation.
- This study investigated personality changes associated with MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for PTSD. The researchers found that MDMA treatment led to increases in the personality trait of Openness and decreases in Neuroticism, which were associated with reductions in PTSD symptoms and persisted long-term, suggesting MDMA may facilitate enduring beneficial changes in personality structure.
Research, Approval, and the Future of Psychedelic Therapy
Many companies are currently seeking approval from the Food and Drug Administration for psychedelic-assisted therapies. If approved, more therapies could become more widely available to patients seeking mental health treatment.
Researchers are also using neuro-imaging instruments like PET scans and fMRI to get a glimpse into how psychedelics affect the brain. To do this, biomarkers in the brain are identified and used to predict one’s treatment response.
Disclaimer: These recent findings are definitely exciting, but more research is needed to fully understand the benefits and risks of psychedelic therapy for mental health. Due to the nature of the treatment, psychedelic therapy should only be facilitated under the guidance of a trained professional in a safe and controlled environment.
Benefits of Psychedelic Therapy
Increased Clarity & Sense of Purpose
Improved Self-Worth and Self-Love
More Peace in Your Daily Life & Relaionships
Decreased Suicidial Ideation and Depression
Improved Feelings of Harmony
Greater Sense of Closeness & Connection to Others
Psychedelic Assisted Therapies We Offer
Ketamine
Ketamine therapy can help people with a wide range of mental health challenges like depression, suicidal ideation, and more.
Psilocybin
Psilocybin therapy research has shown a significant reduction in symptoms of depression and anxiety among participants.
MDMA
MDMA therapy has shown positive effects in reducing PTSD symptoms and trauma effects in a wide range of cases.
Get Started Today
Ready to take the next step towards healing? Let’s schedule a free consultation with a therapist in the Las Vegas area.
We partner with a board-certified anesthesiologist for medicine administration and then, later, conduct the therapeutic integration for maximum results and effectiveness.